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6 NOV. 2024 · IT IS DANGEROUS TO SLEEP
"5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thessalonians 5:5 - 6).My beloved Brother or Sister in Christ, I put before you now a very simple question. Kindly read through this devotion and you will soon see why I ask it. "Are you asleep with respect to the salvation of your soul?" In this time of the end, there are countless number of people who carry the name of Christ but do not have the character which should go with the name. God is not the King of their hearts. "Their attention is on the things of the world". Such people are often quick and clever about the affairs of this world. They are, many of them, good men of business, good at their daily work, good masters, good servants, good neighbors, good citizens of their various countries — these things are not bad in themselves. But it is the most important part of their lives of which I want to draw attention; I want to talk about the salvation of their souls. In as much as these people put in a lot of effort in the secular affairs of life, when it comes to spiritual issues relating to their salvation they are found to be careless, reckless, and unconcerned. They are actually spiritually asleep.
I am not saying that God and salvation are subjects which never come across their minds — but what I am saying is that spiritual things have not the uppermost place their minds. Neither am I saying that they are all alike in their lives; some of them doubtless go further into sin than others; but this I say — they have all turned everyone to his own way, and that way is not the narrow way of God. I know of no rule by which to judge of the condition of a man's soul except THE BIBLE. Now, when I look at the Bible I can come to only one conclusion about these people — they are asleep with regard to the salvation of their souls.
My dear Brother or Sister in the Lord, many people who claim to be Christians in these evil last days do not see the sinfulness of sin, and their own lost condition by nature. They appear to make light of breaking God's commandments, and to care little whether they live according to His LAW or not. Yet, God says that sin is the transgression of the law; that sin is the one thing He cannot bear; that the wages of sin is death; and that the soul that sins shall die. Surely, Christians who do not regard these plain words of Scripture are asleep. My beloved Reader, is this the state of your soul? Always remember my question. ARE YOU ASLEEP?
Lastly, I want to point out that there are Christians in these evil last days who do not see their need of a Saviour. They appear to think that despite their sinful lifestyles, God will be merciful to them at last. Yet God's Word says that He is just and holy, and never changes. The wicked will reap the works of their wicked deeds at the end of time. Dear Brother or Sister, it is important to know that CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY, and none can come unto the Father but by Him — that without His blood there can be no forgiveness of sin — that a man without Christ is a man without hope — that those who would be saved must believe on Jesus and come to Him, and that he or she who believes not shall he damned. Surely, many who profess to know God are asleep because they have not consecrated their lives to the Redeemer. My dear Brother or Sister in Christ, what is the state of your soul? Always remember that when it comes to the salvation of your soul, you must NOT sleep!
Paul Fonsi
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30 OCT. 2024 · Follow Clement Asante on podcast show.
The Time is Short
Beloved Brothers and Sisters, we have only a very short time to spend in this world. Our whole lifetime is very short. From our cradles to our graves, the life of each and everyone of us is only a very short journey. If we should reflect on our past lives, it will be as if it is a story that is soon told. Everything at this end of the world is changing. It will not be long and it will all be over. Our loveliest faces grow old. Similarly, our most fashionable dresses rot and decay. Yet most of us who claim to be Christians are spending our years in sin. We are giving our best days to sin and the world. In all that we are doing, we should know that our remaining years in this world have been numbered. The number of times that we are left with to attend Church have been numbered. The number of sermons we are left with to hear have been numbered. Probably, this message is the last message that some of us might read in this world. To many of us, this year may be the last year that we shall see in this world. It may be that the disease that is to cause our untimely death is already eating our bodies up. In a little while, we will be lying quietly in our graves awaiting the resurrection. Indeed, "The time is short."
I wish to arouse all of us to the fact that the end of all things is rapidly approaching. This world is quickly passing away. As Christians, we should have the things of this world below our feet but eternal things before our eyes. A little while, dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, and the day of Grace will be over. A little while and preaching and praying will be over. A little while and we shall stand before the Great White Throne Judgement of God. Soon we shall stop wrestling with an unbelieving world. A little while and the wicked shall not be - we shall see them going away into everlasting punishment. A little while, and eternity shall begin.
We should learn from the shortness of time and not give our hearts to the dearest things of this world. Parents, love your children, and train them in the fear of God; but know that "the time is short." They are only a loan from the Lord. Do not be surprised if He takes them back. Members of the various true Bible-believing churches, you are required to esteem your pastors highly in love, for the sake of their work, yet be as if you have none. Lean entirely on Christ as if you have never seen or heard a pastor. Live nearer to Christ than to your pastors, so that when they are taken from you, you may still have Him to lean on.
In these evil last days, it is right for us as Christians to be diligent in businesses. Yet we should not be so much absorbed with the businesses of this world at the expense of our salvation. How can we be so busy filling up all our time with worldly things, but fail to realize that we will not take any of them with us into eternity? How can we be so busy caring for our bodies whiles our souls are not provided for? We should live in this world as if we have nothing. All that we have in this world belongs to God and the day is coming when we will render a full account to Him for how we have used what He has entrusted into our care. Let us, therefore, not set our hearts on the things of this world below. We should be ready to abandon all things worldly when God bids us to do so. If we were in a sinking ship, we would not cling so tightly to bags of money - we would let them go and be ready to swim. This world is like a sinking ship and those of us who are holding tightly to its possessions will sink with it. Oh! It will be the most unreasonable thing for us to give our hearts to the things of this world because, "the time is short.
Those of us who are still unrepentant should learn from the mistakes and foolishness of our past lives. Although life is very short, it is still a time for us to be saved. This is the reason for which God granted us life to see this day. God's longsuffering is intended for our salvation. God gives us time to hear the Gospel, to pray and to get saved. But those who are still unrepentant and dabbling in various sins are wasting the God-given opportunities to be saved.
Let us seriously think about how much time we have lost in idleness. Let us think about how many golden opportunities for prayer, and hearing the Word of God, and meditation, we have lost! Let us carefully consider the amount of time we spend uselessly in idle talk. Let us think about how much time we usually spend in our worldly businesses, without even one thought of eternity. Let us think about how much time we normally spend in worldly pleasures and in sins of which it is a shame to even mention.
If we knew how short our time is, and how death and hell are pursuing us, we would have fled without a moment's hesitation to Christ for refuge! God has given each and everyone of us time to flee to Christ for salvation, but we are spending it by fleeing towards Hellfire. God has given each and everyone of us time to be saved and we are spending it in destroying our souls. Let us think about how we have lost our best time to be saved. Youth is the best time to be saved but unfortunately many of us have lost it. "The harvest is past, the summer is ended; and we are not saved"
Oh! Let us all be wise. Why should we be idle about our salvation any longer? It has come to the eleventh hour with some of us. The unrepentant heads of some of us have become grey. The feet of some of us who are still unrepentant are tottering. If we saw a man condemned to die, lying in chains, with only three hours to live; if we saw that man singing profane songs and playing chess, would we not be shocked? I believe we would say he was a hardened criminal. Ah! But are some of us not also like that? We have been condemned to die because we have not repented of our numerous sins; our remaining days in this world are numbered; we are hanging by a thread over the mouth of Hellfire and everlasting death, and yet we are cutting and slashing the hand of Jesus that holds us. It will not be long, Brothers and Sisters, and it will all be over. In conclusion, we must continuously remember daily that, "The time is short." and that eternity is rapidly hastening.
Paul Fonsi
Transcrito
30 OCT. 2024 · Follow Clement Asante on podcast show.
Avoid Giving Excuses
Beloved Brothers and Sisters, I'm about to direct your attention to spiritual things. I cannot imagine that to be a Christian is to be an idler or a lazy person. Though salvation is not by works, as soon as God puts divine life into us, we begin to fight the battle for eternal life; we begin to struggle to enter in through the narrow gate, and we begin to run perseveringly the race that is set before us, enduring hardships as good soldiers of Jesus Christ.
During the final hours of this world's history, it is just the endurance of hardships for Christ's sake that many of us do not like. We prefer an easy form of Christianity which comes in flowery grassy fields, flowing streams, and sunny glades - all these things we like; but we do not like the climbing of mountains or the swimming of rivers or going through fires or fighting, struggling, and wrestling. Some of us live the life of a Christian for a while till we encounter difficulties and then we become offended. When everything is running smoothly at the beginning of the Christian life, we do sing praises to the Lord; but when difficulties begin to surface because of our faith, many straightaway become offended and abandon their Christian walk.
We are told in Proverbs 20:4 that "the sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest and have nothing." I am going to talk about this sluggard in this article. Dear cherished Readers, we must all know that ploughing is hard work and the sluggard does not like it. But the lazy man knows that he will be laughed at if he says ploughing is hard work, so he does not say that. "I must get a better excuse," he thinks, so he says, "It is so cold! I would not have minded going out to plough but I am frozen almost to death; I shall have catarrh; I have no clothes that will keep me warm; it is so cold to my fingers. Lazy fellow! Why don't you say that ploughing is hard work? That is simply what you want to say. But no, he must have a more clever excuse that will not give the opportunity for people to laugh at him.
Supposing it were not cold, do you know what he would say? "Oh, it is so hot! I cannot plough, the sweat runs down my cheeks. You wouldn't like me to plough in this hot weather, would you?" Supposing it were neither hot nor cold, then he would say; I believe that it rained; and if it didn't rain, he would say the ground was too dry. For a bad excuse, in his opinion, is better than none; and therefore he will keep on making excuses to the end; he will do anything than to go and do the work that he does not like - that is, ploughing.
Readers, probably, some of you have smiled at the behaviour of the sluggard that I have described above. However, in these end times, there are some of us who are behaving just like this sluggard. Such people would like to go to heaven, however, without having any struggle. Such people will want to enjoy the harvest, but they do not like the work of ploughing.
There appears to be none of us who have the common honesty and courage to say that; "I do not like the hardships in Christianity." But instead, what do you suppose many of us usually say? "Well, I am as anxious to be a Christian as anybody, but you know, these are such hard times." Hard times? Is any of us complaining that these end times are hard? The times have always been hard since creation. "But in these times," says some of us, "there is no warmth in Christians; they are all so cold-hearted. Why, we attend church and nobody speaks to us. Christianity is not as it used to be in the past. Christianity has depreciated. There are lots of hypocrites, and very few kind Christians and we do not think that we should trouble ourselves about Christianity at all."
Ah! That is a pretty excuse, because we know that what we are saying is not true. In the first place, we know that there is life in Christ's Church even in these evil end times, and that there are still (if only we will look around carefully) a few good loving, warm-hearted Christian men and women to be found. All of us know that there are still some few faithful preachers left. People who are faithful have not disappeared from among men, and although hypocrites are plentiful, still there are many sincere souls. But what if there were not? What business is that of ours? Are we satisfied to be lost because Christianity is not what it ought to be? Let us look at the matter in this direction and ensure that we refrain from making excuses to live a pure life for Christ. Let us work hard to perfect our characters in the fear of the Lord and do our best part to win as many people into the kingdom of God. For it wouldn't be long, our Saviour would pronounce unto us the blessed words:"Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord" (Matthew 25:21).Paul Fonsi
Transcrito
30 OCT. 2024 · 
Do Not Love the World
As Christians, we are confronted with three great and powerful enemies. These three enemies are, "The world, the flesh and the devil." They are terrible enemies that we MUST OVERCOME if only we want to be saved. However, in this article, we will consider only one of these enemies which the Holy Bible warns us not to be "conformed" unto. The enemy that we will consider briefly in this article is called, "THE WORLD."
My cherished Brothers and Sisters, this world is under the dominion of Satan who is its "prince" and who controls its policies and politics. Satan is the god of this world who directs its various religious practices. This present evil world is hostile to godliness. This present evil world is dominated by selfish ambition, pride, greediness, self-pleasing and sensuous desires and interests. Its opinions are false. Its aims are selfish. Its pleasures are sinful. Its influence is totally demoralizing and soul-ruining. Its politics are corrupt. Its honours are short-lived and worthless. This present evil world is at rebellion against our God. It is in opposition to God.
Dear Friends, this world seeks to gratify its own sinful lusts with no thought of or concern for God's will or glory. Most men and women of today do not care about the provocative dresses they put on, many do not care about the means they use to obtain wealth while most people now do not differentiate between what is good or spiritual to watch or listen to. Even as many keep loving the world, it is high time for God's children to walk on the path of righteousness and separate themselves from the world. It is God's purpose that as Christians we should detach our affections and interests completely from the things of this physical and corrupt world and set them upon things above. But from the look of things now, it is hard to detect any line of separation between those of us that claim to be Christians and the world. Looking at the way that so many of us conduct ourselves, it is difficult if not impossible to distinguish "him that believes" from "him that believes not" that Jesus is the only Saviour of humanity. It was never in the mind of God that as His people, we should make ourselves at home here, because our, "citizenship is in heaven" (Philippians 3:20).
God separated Abraham from his people, and "righteous Lot" and his family members from the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. God carefully separated Israel from the nations and set them apart by special laws and customs. And during these final hours of the world's history, He commands us to, "have no fellowship" with unbelievers, or be, "unequally yoked" with them.
With all these things in our view, what are we doing? Are we obeying God's command to separate ourselves from the world? If we are not, why are we not? Will God accept any of our useless excuses? He has given us our marching orders to represent Him in character in this world. Our duty is to do just that! Do we think we can mix the things of this wicked world with our lives and not sin? It's impossible. Sin is a serious matter. Jesus Christ, the very Son of God suffered and died in order to deliver us from it, and yet great numbers of those of us who claim to be Christians are taking an active part in the world's merrymaking and mad struggle after this world's pleasures, wealth and temporal rewards! If we do not believe in the loving and humble Jesus as the Saviour of humanity, then let us quit our miserable pretense of being His followers. In other words, let us stop being hypocrites and take our Christian walk seriously in these evil last days.
Any of us who is seeking God must be prepared to make a full surrender of all sinful and worldly prospects, pleasures and benefits, and give himself or herself completely to God. All of us must be willing to give God all the affections of our hearts because His command is,"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with ALL THY HEART" (Numbers 22:37).It is a sad fact that at this end of the world, there are only two kinds of "Christians." These are the "truly repentant or possessors" and the "unrepentant or professors". Those of us who are mere professors of Christianity have been overcome by the love of the world, the cares of the world, the business of the world, the money of the world, the pleasures of the world, the desire to go along with the world, and, sadly enough, the desire to be LIKE the world. Of course, we are only pretending to live holy and religious lives. Yet, we still have the false hope of getting to heaven at last.
Beloved Brothers and Sisters, when God commanded us through Paul to, "Come out from among them," He did not mean that as Christians we must give up all our worldly callings, our trades, our occupations, our businesses. No! If only they are lawful and according to the Holy Bible, we can engage in them. God did not forbid any of us from being teachers, farmers, or nurses, or engineers, just to mention a few. God does not expect man to be idle but busy, "working with his hands the thing that is good" (Ephesians 4:28). The Bible is very clear on the point that, "if any man will not work neither shall he eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10). We are not to avoid doing any lawful work but, "do with our might whatsoever our hands finds to do" (Ecclesiastes 9:10), being very careful to carry the testimony of Jesus as the only divinely appointed Saviour of the world with us into our businesses, conducting it in the, "fear of the Lord" and to "the glory of God."
Whatever the work of each and every one of us may be, we should of course try everything within our power to do it well. But we must be very careful that we do not permit our work to come between Christ and us. If we find that our worldly affairs are interfering with our Bible studies; if we discover that the affairs of this world are interfering with our private prayers and meditation, and prevents us from actively participating in church activities, so that we do not have adequate time for God as we should, it will be better for us to choose being less rich and prosperous in this world rather than to lose our salvation. For us to do this may require genuine self-denial, but this is the way of true separation from the world. Anything that occupies too much of our time and attention so that we do not have sufficient time for the things of God must be avoided. We are to, "SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD." (Matthew 6:33).
I know of course that it is not an easy thing for us in these evil days not love this sinking world and separate ourselves from it even as it approaches its swift destruction. For us not to love the world demands a constant struggle, a continuous conflict and extreme self-denial. For us not to love the world and its evil ways requires a strong determination on our part. But if the heart of each one of us is right, and we are determined, God Himself will be our Helper.
My dear Readers, the time is short. The end of all things is at hand. The night is coming when none of us can work on his or her salvation. The judgment will soon be set and "the books opened." Are we ready to stand before God on the last great Judgment Day? Let us arouse ourselves and refuse to love the world while we still have the grand opportunity today. It will not be long and the things that we now see will have passed away. The time is rapidly approaching when there will be no more gluttonous eating and drinking, partying, and obtaining riches.
Readers, let us kindly consider these things more seriously than we have ever done before. Let us awake while we still have a little probationary time and set our affections on the things above, and not on things of this fallen and sinking world. We should persevere in our separation from the world and take our walk with God most seriously in these present evil last days. If we do this, there is no doubt we will never have regrets for having refused to love the temporal things of this world when our Saviour comes the second time to rescue His children from this wicked world.
Paul Fonsi
Transcrito
18 SEP. 2024 · Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:13.
There are many who do not understand the conflict that is going on between Christ and Satan over the souls of men. They do not realize that if they would stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel they must be willing to be partakers of His conflicts and wage a determined war against the powers of darkness.
When thinking on the conflict, Paul writes to his Ephesian brethren exhorting them to “be strong,” not feeble, not wavering, tossed to and fro like the waves of the sea. But in what are they to be strong? In their own might? No. “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” He says, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places ...” (verses 10-13).
The gaining of eternal life will ever involve a struggle, a conflict. We are continually to be found fighting the good fight of faith. We are soldiers of Christ; and those who enlist in His army are expected to do difficult work, work which will tax their energies to the utmost. We must understand that a soldier’s life is one of aggressive warfare, of perseverance and endurance. For Christ’s sake we are to endure trials.
Victories are not gained by ceremonies or display but by simple obedience to the highest General, the Lord God of heaven. He who trusts in this Leader will never know defeat. Obedience to God is liberty from the thraldom of sin, deliverance from human passion and impulse. Man may stand conqueror of himself, conqueror of his own inclinations, conqueror of principalities and powers, and of the “rulers of the darkness of this world,” and of “spiritual wickedness in high places.” ...
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” [260]
Transcrito
18 SEP. 2024 · Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations. 1 Peter 1:5, 6.
Do not think that the Christian life is free from temptation. Temptations will come to every Christian. Both the Christian and the one who does not accept Christ as his leader will have trials. The difference is that the latter is serving a tyrant, doing his mean drudgery, while the Christian is serving the One who died to give him eternal life. Do not look upon trial as something strange, but as the means by which we are to be purified and strengthened. “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations,” James admonishes; “knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:2, 3).
In the future life we shall understand things that here greatly perplex us. We shall realize how strong a helper we had and how angels of God were commissioned to guard us as we followed the counsel of the Word of God.
To all who receive Him, Christ will give power to become the sons of God. He is a present help in every time of need. Let us be ashamed of our wavering faith. Those who are overcome have only themselves to blame for their failure to resist the enemy. All who choose can come to Christ and find the help they need.
There stands among you the mighty Counselor of the ages, inviting you to place your confidence in Him. Shall we turn away from Him to uncertain human beings, who are as wholly dependent on God as we ourselves are? Have we fallen so far below our privileges? Have we not been guilty of expecting so little that we have not asked for what God is longing to give?
“I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel.... For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them” (Isaiah 63:7-9). [258]
31 OCT. 2023 · 
EXAMINE EVERYTHING
"PROVE ALL THINGS; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21; Capital Emphasis Added)
My dear Brother or Sister in Christ, here, Paul the Apostle writes to the Thessalonians, to a Church he himself had founded. Here is an inspired apostle writing to young inexperienced Christians, writing to the whole professing Church in a certain city, writing too with especial reference to matters of doctrine and preaching. Yet mark what he says: "PROVE ALL THINGS." He does not say that, "Whatever popes, whatever evangelists, whatever bishops, whatever apostles, whatever pastors, whatever teachers, whatever your leaders tell you is truth — that you are to believe." NO! he says that, "Prove all things." He does not say, "Whatever the Conference pronounces true — that you are to hold." NO! he says that, "Prove all things."
The principle laid down is this, "Prove all things by the Word of God. All leaders, all teaching, all preaching, all doctrines, all sermons, all writings, all opinions, all practices — PROVE ALL by the Word of God. Measure all by the measure of the Bible. Compare all with the standard of the Bible. Weigh all in the balances of the Bible. Examine all by the light of the Bible. That which is in the Bible, RECEIVE, HOLD, BELIEVE and OBEY. That which is not in the Bible, REJECT, REFUSE, and CAST AWAY."
Above all, as long as you live, look forward to the great DAY OF JUGDEMENT. Think of the fearful account which every one of us shall have to give on that day before the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). We shall not be judged by Churches. We shall not be judged by congregations. We shall be judged INDIVIDUALLY, each for himself or herself! What shall it profit you on that day to say, "Lord, Lord, I believed everything the Church told me. I received and believed everything ordained pastors set before me. I thought that whatever the Church and the pastors said, must be right"? What shall it profit you to say this, if you have held some DEADLY ERROR? Surely, the voice of Him who sits upon the throne shall reply, "You had the Scriptures. You had a Book plain and easy — to him that will read it and search it in a child-like spirit. Why did you not use the Word of God when it was given to you? You had a reasonable mind given you to understand that Bible. Why did you not 'Prove all things,' and thus save yourself from error?" Oh, my dear Brother or Sister in Christ, if you refuse to exercise your sense of religious judgment at this end of the world, think of that day and BEWARE!
Paul Fonsi
31 OCT. 2023 · 
EXAMINE YOUR HEART
"This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME." (Matthew 15:8; Capital Emphasis Added)
"8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for THY HEART IS NOT RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD.
8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the LORD for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me."
(Acts 8:18-24; Capital Emphasis Added)My dear Brother or Sister in Christ, when your heart is wrong all is wrong in God’s sight at this end of the world. You may do many things that are right at this end of the world. You may honour the forms and religious ceremonies which God Himself has appointed at this end of the world. But so long as your heart is at fault, God is not pleased. God will have your whole heart or nothing at all.
The ark was the most sacred thing in the Jewish tabernacle. On it was the mercy seat. Within it were the tables of The Law (Exodus 25:8-22), written by God’s own finger, (Deuteronomy 9:10). The High Priest alone was allowed to go into the place where it was kept, within the veil, and that only once every year (Leviticus 16:34). The presence of the ark in the camp continually brought a special blessing. And yet this very ark could do the Israelites no more good than any common wooden box, when they trusted to it like an idol, with their hearts full of wickedness. They brought it into the camp, on one special occasion, saying, "Let us fetch the ark, that it may save us out of the hand of our enemies" (1 Samuel 4:3). When it came into the camp they showed it all reverence and honour. "They shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again" (1 Samuel 4:5). But it was all in vain. They were beaten by the Philistines, and the ark itself was taken (1 Samuel 4:11). And why was this so? It was so because their religion was a mere form. They honoured the ark, but did not give the God of the ark their hearts.
There were some kings of Judah and Israel who did many things that were right in God’s sight, and yet were never written in the list of godly and righteous men. Rehoboam began well, and "for three years walked in the way of David and Solomon" (2 Chronicles 11:17). But afterwards "he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord" (2 Chronicles 12:14). Abijah, according to the book of Chronicles, said many things that were right, and fought successfully against Jeroboam. Nevertheless, we read that "his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God" (1 Kings 15:3). Amaziah, we are expressly told, "did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart" (2 Chronicles 25:2). Jehu, King of Israel, was raised up, by God’s command, to put down idolatry. He was a man of special zeal in doing God’s work. But unhappily, it is written of him that "He took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin" (2 Kings 10:31). In short, one thing applies to all these kings. They were all wrong inwardly. They were all rotten to the core of their hearts!
There are Churches at this end of the world where all the outward religious ceremonies are done to perfection. The building is beautiful. The service is beautiful. The singing is beautiful. The forms of devotion are beautiful. There is everything to gratify your senses. Your eyes, and ears, and mind may all be pleased. But all this time, God is not pleased. One thing is lacking, and the lack of that one thing spoils all. WHAT IS THAT ONE THING? It is your lack of a pure heart! God sees under all your fair outward show the form of Christianity put in the place of the substance (2 Timothy 3:5), and when He sees that he is not pleased. He sees nothing with an eye of favour in your Church building, the service, the pastor, or the people, if He does not see converted, renewed, broken, repentant hearts. Your bowed head, your bended knees, your loud amens, your crossed hands, all, all ARE NOTHING in God's sight if your heart is not right with Him at this end of the world!
Paul Fonsi
18 OCT. 2023 · INTEGRITY NOT FOR SALE
Living amidst the culture of mediocrity and spiritual decay has caused many to forsake their moral principles. If you faithfully and obediently walk in the principles of a holy life in this contemporary world, you will be associated with tags like been strict, inhuman, unfriendly, old-fashion, barbaric, conservative and the like. Since these associative tags are not easy to embrace, those who had once held firm to godly principles and guidelines become conformists and yield to negative influences. The evil influences that have enshrouded the atmosphere around us benumb our consciences to the extent that we lose sight on our moral compasses.
In our world today, we are witnessing a decrease in holiness. Absolute Christianity is giving way to spiritual fanaticism and normalism. Secret associations, séances, satanic witchery, spiritist mediums and occultism have become so ubiquitous that the faithful few always suffer the text of conformity and compromise. The integrity of men and women are tested daily and many are they who sell their priceless worth (integrity) for frivolous worldly gains.
When you are confronted to tell a lie in order to cover up a particular sin, to compromise in an evil deal, to engage in a premarital or extramarital sex, yield to bribery and corruption, to smuggle assets, compact group or institutional assets for yourself, you are hovering between two opinions. The choice is between whether to exchange your expensive asset (your integrity and salvation) for that worldly pleasure or temporal enjoyment?
The devil comes to us in diverse ways, to Joseph it was a temptation to compromise his chastity; to Naboth, it was a demand for his family treasure; to Daniel it was a threat to give in his prayer life and fidelity to God; to the three Hebrew boys (Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah) it was a call to compromise their faith in God; to Jesus Christ it was a call to denial His Lordship and bow in exchange for worldly treasures. To you, it may be that you are pricked to surrender your chastity or to be hooked to drugs or alcohol, or to engage in evil associations or secret societies. Remember that all these are calls for you to compromise; and a bargain for your hard earned integrity. Moreover, if you find yourself in a position or rank with several subordinates or opportunities, be careful not to misuse your power because it will make you prone to temptation.
When you are tempted to do wrong or pressured to sell your integrity, remember the rules of life; Thou shalt have no other gods before me (God), Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth, Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain, Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy: Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 13 Thou shalt not kill. 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 15 Thou shalt not steal. 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. (1 Kings 21:1-3; Daniel 1:8; Daniel 3:8-18; Mathew 4:1-11; Exodus 20:1-18)
16 OCT. 2023 · KJV Genesis 19:12-17, 26
12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son-inlaw, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:
13 for we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.
14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons-in-law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons-in-law.
15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Sermons from CLEMENT ASANTE
Información
Autor | Clement Asante |
Organización | Clement Asante |
Categorías | Cristianismo , Cristianismo , Cristianismo |
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asanteclement81@gmail.com |
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